Lebanon's Hariri tribunal head urges suspects to appear

Four men wanted in connection with the 2005 Rafiq Hariri killing are urged to show up in court, while an Interpol warrant is also issued

The head of the UN-backed tribunal probing the 2005 death of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, on Thursday urged four Hezbollah members wanted in the case to appear before the court.

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon's president, Judge Antonio Cassese, made the appeal in an open letter, two days after he was told by Lebanese authorities that none of the four men identified by the tribunal as suspects has been arrested.

"A major safeguard of a fair and just trial is the active participation of the accused. I therefore urge all indictees to come before the tribunal," said Cassese's letter, of which a copy was sent to AFP.

Lebanese authorities had until Thursday to report on progress made in arresting four men wanted in connection with the February 14, 2005, massive car bomb explosion in Beirut that killed Hariri and 22 others. Interpol has also issued wanted notices for the men.

The tribunal first submitted warrants for the four to Lebanon in late June.

Ayyash and Badreddine face among others, charges of "committing a terrorist act by means of an explosive device" and homicide including Hariri's death, while Anaissi and Sabra faced charges of conspiring to commit the same acts.

Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia which is now a key player in Lebanon's coalition government has ruled out the arrest of the four suspects, hinting that the STL was heading for a trial in absentia.